Gillingham (Dorset) Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Gillingham (Dorset) maintained a crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents in January 2026, placing it 50% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This figure underscores the area's consistently lower crime profile compared to national trends, though specific crime types reveal nuanced patterns. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 47.4% of all reported crimes, with a rate of 1.6 per 1,000 — 36% below the UK average. This suggests a strong local suppression of violent crime, possibly linked to community initiatives or effective policing. Anti-social behaviour followed as the second most common category, contributing 18.4% of incidents at a rate of 0.6 per 1,000, also significantly below the UK average. However, burglary emerged as an outlier, with a rate of 0.4 per 1,000 — 43% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000. This discrepancy may reflect local factors such as property density or vulnerabilities in specific neighbourhoods. Seasonal context further shapes the data: January's reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours likely contributed to lower outdoor crime, though anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime saw notable increases. The overall pattern aligns with Gillingham's character as a smaller, likely rural or semi-rural built-up area, where community dynamics and policing may help maintain low violent crime rates despite pockets of higher property-related crime.

January 2026 saw a 100% increase in vehicle crime, rising from one to two incidents, a sharp contrast to the 80% decline in other theft, which fell from five to one. Anti-social behaviour also rose by 75%, with incidents increasing from four to seven, while criminal damage and arson climbed by 50%. These shifts in crime patterns suggest a possible seasonal influence, with the post-holiday period potentially contributing to increased anti-social activity. Violent crimes, however, decreased slightly by 5.3%, from 19 to 18, though this remains 36% below the UK average. Burglary, the third most common crime, was 43% above the UK average (0.4 vs 0.3 per 1,000), an outlier that may reflect local vulnerabilities such as property density or policing priorities. For residents, the 100% rise in vehicle crime is a specific data point that could warrant attention, particularly in areas with high vehicle concentrations.

Gillingham (Dorset)'s crime rate in January 2026 fell to 3.4 per 1,000 residents, a 7.2% decrease from the previous month's rate of 3.6 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the seasonal pattern typical of January, which sees reduced retail footfall and fewer outdoor activities compared to busier months. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that reflects the low overall crime rate. When scaled to the population of 11,325 residents, this translates to one reported crime for every 298 residents over the course of the month. Given Gillingham's relatively small population and the low crime rate, the monthly exposure to crime remains significantly lower than the UK average, which is more than double the local rate. This suggests a consistently safer environment compared to the national picture, though local factors such as community engagement or policing strategies may contribute to this trend.